Just like last year I’ve left this post until way too late so I’ve already read the majority of my festive ARCs, however, thankfully this year has been a much more positive experience. I’m definitely feeling a little over the Christmas books again though, even though the overall experience has been more positive. I say this every year, but I really need to start reading them much earlier.
I also need to write this post much earlier as I only have two ARCs left to talk about. This post has become a yearly tradition though so I’m still writing it.
Christmas Is All Around by Martha Waters
I’m extremely over the main characters hating Christmas but this does sound like a fun read. It’s definitely a unique story for a festive romance. Christmas films are probably my favourite part of the festive season so a book about a former Christmas movie star sounds right up my street.
Synopsis: A former child star learns that holiday magic can come from a change in perspective in this charming and hilarious holiday rom-com.
Charlotte hates the holidays. As a former child actress, she starred in a modern classic of a holiday movie, and its fans won’t let her move on. When a piece revealing that her reluctance nixed plans for a reboot, she flees to London to spend the five-week countdown to the holidays with her sister.
But the ghosts of Christmas past follow her there when she ends up at Eden Priory, a filming location for the movie she has never visited. There, after being recognized by a fan while viewing the extraordinary holiday decorations, she’s accidently left behind, forcing her to accept a ride back to London by Graham, the son of the owners. Their family business—and the funds to keep their historic house running—relies on holiday cheer, and Graham knows a visit from a holiday star would bring in more visitors.
Now an illustrator, Charlotte accepts a commission illustrating iconic holiday movie scenes in London and its environs. Graham offers to help escort her, as long as she’ll commit to an art workshop at Eden Priory. But as Charlotte’s chaotic family holiday goes awry, she begins spending more time scouting locations with Graham. Charlotte may not love Christmas, but is it so bad if you’re also falling in love?
Under the Mistletoe with You by Lizzie Huxley-Jones
Now this sounds extremely cute. I love the trope of the Hollywood star and the normal person and this one is even more up my street as the ‘normal’ person is a baker. Christmas books about bakers are top tier. They make me feel so festive.
Synopsis: Ready to spend a quiet Christmas with his nearest and dearest, Christopher has closed up shop in his bakery, he’s wrapped up and packed up his presents, and he’s found someone to stay in his flat over the festive period. Everything is under control. That is until the mysterious person he’s rented his flat to turns out to be none other than…
Nash Nadeau, an actor – and the star of all Christopher’s favourite Christmas movies. In fact, he’s the guy Christpher’s been crushing on for the whole past year. Since last Christmas.
For Nash, this Christmas was a chance to escape Hollywood, to go to a small town and hide away, alone, in a place where no one knows who he is. But when a huge snowstorm hits, the whole country grinds to a halt. There’s no way Christopher is leaving, and there’s nowhere else for Nash to stay. The two of them are just going to have to weather this together, snowed in for Christmas…
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